DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Vehicle Saga Shows Parliament Has Few Budgetary Teeth

"Why didn't you prevent this?" is a question Kenyans may start asking legislators soon, concerning a report about government's purchase of luxury vehicles in 2003 and 2004.

CORRUPTION-KENYA: What About That Other Scandal?

As revelations about a multi-million-dollar scam involving the Anglo Leasing and Finance company riveted public attention in Kenya this week, a report about investigations into the country's biggest corruption scandal ever was gathering dust in an office at State House.

KENYA: Corruption Allegations a Watershed for Government

It has been a grim week for the Kibaki administration in Kenya, with Finance Minister David Mwiraria falling victim to new revelations about high-level graft - this as the World Bank suspended millions in aid to Nairobi, and an embarrassing report about government expenditure on luxury vehicles was issued.

DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Collapsed Building Highlights Crumbling Regulation

As the chances of finding more survivors in the building that collapsed earlier this week in Nairobi moved from slim to remote, poor oversight and corruption were being blamed for the disaster.

POLITICS: AU Bails Out of Controversy to Focus on Africa’s Ills

Sudan's decision to withdraw its bid for the leadership of the African Union (AU) has been welcomed by human rights groups and local activists, who say it has enhanced Africa's reputation.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Taking Mumbai Forward to Bamako, Caracas and Karachi

Indian participation in the first two phases of the polycentric World Social Forum (WSF), which wound down in the Malian capital of Bamako on Monday and opened in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 24, is mainly from the WSF Indian Working Committee (IWC).

POLITICS: African Leaders Meet to Change Continent’s Image

African leaders, meeting in Sudan's capital, are seeking ways to improve their continent's image by ridding it of conflicts, diseases, poverty and human rights abuses.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Satisfaction with an “Afrocentric” Meeting

The first phase of the World Social Forum (WSF), which ended Monday in the Malian capital of Bamako, created a focus on "Afrocentric" issues that was missing in previous forums, said coordinator Mamadou Goita.

POLITICS-AFRICA: AU Summit Faces a Host of Crises

The annual summit of the African Union (AU) begins in Sudan’s dusty capital of Khartoum, Monday, amidst a political crisis in the Ivory Coast, famine in East Africa and conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Tackle Corruption, Cancel Debt

Mali, one of the international community’s poorest nations and host of the World Social Forum (WSF), presents the picture of a country that has been overburdened by debt. Government spends much of its budget repaying what is owed to international creditors – at the expense of development.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Let the Debates Begin

The Malian capital of Bamako opened its doors to the World Social Forum (WSF) Thursday with a passionate call for justice in all walks of life. The historic event – which marks the first instance in which a global forum is being held in Africa – has attracted some 10,000 representatives from civil society organisations and social movements around the world.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: The Spirit of Bandung Alive and Well in Bamako

As the sixth World Social Forum (WSF) got underway in the Malian capital of Bamako, Thursday, memories of another landmark meeting were in the air – namely the Bandung Conference, held in the Indonesian city of the same name in 1955.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Cynicism and Hope Ahead of the Bamako Gathering

With just a day to go before Africa's first-ever World Social Forum (WSF) gets underway in Mali, attitudes towards the meeting appear somewhat mixed in the West African country.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Lack of Sponsorship Undermines Mali Gathering

Plans to send a large contingent of Kenyan campaigners to the African leg of the World Social Forum (WSF) may be undermined by a lack of funding.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Will the Bamako Meeting Tackle Africa’s Sore Spots?

The African leg of the World Social Forum (WSF) kicks off next week in the Malian capital, Bamako, with a host of issues on the agenda: war and militarism, global trade and debt, to name just a few.

RIGHTS-KENYA: “Here, Rapists Can Get as Low a Sentence as a Fine…”

An alleged ex-convict known only as "Maranda" may have been responsible for the rape of five-year-old Peris Akoth at the beginning of this year, in Kenya. Then again, he may not.

DEVELOPMENT-RWANDA: Community Service Offends Across the Board

During the 12 years since the Rwandan genocide, national and community courts - and an international tribunal - have tried to bring about justice for victims of the killings and rights abuses that took place in 1994.

CHALLENGES 2005-2006: Congolese Mineral Wealth As Coveted As Ever

A ragged gold miner dives into a chocolate-coloured pool of sludge, resurfacing minutes later with a handful of stones containing slivers of gold ore.

CHALLENGES 2005-2006: Gov’t Pays Only Lip Service to the War on Corruption

To campaigners in Kenya, the New Year starts with a feeling of dissatisfaction at how the government of President Mwai Kibaki has ignored its own anti-corruption campaign.

FINANCE-KENYA: Small Loans for Men Will Keep Violence Against Women Down

Micro-credit facilities for men could emerge as a powerful tool to check the alarming increase in cases of violence against women in Kenya.

RIGHTS-SUDAN: Women Boost Darfur Talks

Mariam Abdalla Omar has earned a reputation as both a fighter and a peacemaker in the troubled western Sudanese region of Darfur.